Mitt left Mike a message

Mike Huckabee said Sunday that he still thought he would run for president up until a few days ago — and revealed he got a "gracious" voicemail from rival Mitt Romney right after he said on Fox News that he would forgo a 2012 campaign.

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"Up until just a few days ago... I honestly thought I would be in it," Huckabee told Fox News Sunday's Chris Wallace, adding that "the more the external things began to materialize, the less the internal things began to crystalize for me."

"Frankly I don't know that I'll ever have a better chance" at capturing the nomination, the former Arkansas governor said, adding that he "believed deep within me that it wasn't the right time and it wasn't meant to be."

Huckabee's decision to bow out allows him to continue with a lucrative Fox News contract, as well as a radio venture, paid speeches and a just-launched historical DVD company. The Arkansas native has become a Florida resident, and is currently building a multi-million-dollar dream home with his wife Janet.

He cited five candidates as sharing "similar" views to his — Sarah Palin Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann — who "very clearly might benefit" from his decision "because of their strong positions on issues like life and on traditional marriage."

Most of those who Huckabee cited released statements shortly after he made his Saturday night announcement, praising him in a clear bid for either his support, or that of his backers. Romney was not among them.

When Wallace noted he didn't mention Romney, Huckabee said, "No but let me tell you something — I got a wonderful voicemail from Mitt Romney last night, which I thought was very gracious on his part."

Romney and Huckabee tussled nastily during the 2008 campaign, and their bad blood has lived on into the current cycle. But Huckabee insisted if Romney is the nominee he'll support him, because he'd be better than President Barack Obama.

"Whether he is my first choice, I will support him if he is our nominee and he very well may be," Huckabee said.

The same holds true for the man who made a pre-taped cameo on "Huckabee," Donald Trump.

"I believe Donald Trump would be better for America than Barack Obama," he said.

Huckabee also claimed that Trump had pre-taped two versions of his cheeky appearance on "Huckabee" — one to air if the pol ran, the other to air if he didn't — and that his own staff didn't know which would go until the last possible minute.